The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1988

With that, he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Cicely shivered involuntarily. His eyes suddenly darkened further. Sensing her subtle attempt to pull away, Seth tightened his embrace and effortlessly scooped her into his arms.

Cicely's hands found their way to his shoulders, her gaze flickering unsteadily up to his face. The ferocity hadn't completely left his expression, yet there seemed to be an unusual softness mingling with it now.

How could one person manage to display such contrasting emotions in the same instance? Cicely wondered if it was just her wishful thinking, misreading the signs. After the night's overwhelming events, she was feeling particularly fragile.

Isaac, noticing Cicely's lack of resistance, silently followed them out.

Once they reached the parking lot, the hotel's valet promptly delivered Seth's car and held the door open for them.d2

Cicely, who had been pretending to rest with her eyes closed the whole time, suddenly spoke up, "Isaac."

"Yes, Miss?"

"Help me into the car."

Seth paused, glancing down at her with an inscrutable expression. Cicely's face was neutral, her eyes averted from his.

Isaac stepped forward, reaching out to take Cicely from Seth's arms. Seth didn't let go. Instead, he carried her directly to Isaac's car parked nearby.

Someone opened the car door, and Seth gently placed Cicely inside before sliding into the seat beside her.

Cicely's brow furrowed, and she moved subtly to the side, resting her head against the window, eyes closing once more.

"Mr. Diaz, what about your own car?" Isaac inquired.

"Trash it."

A flicker of movement betrayed Cicely's reaction behind her closed eyelids.

Isaac hesitated, then made a quick call, giving orders with practiced ease to have a certain Maserati demolished without a second thought. After all, it wasn't going to be of any use anymore.

As Seth started the car and glanced at Cicely, he drew her closer to him. Her frown deepened, but Seth cradled her head against his chest. She made a feeble attempt to resist, and he simply held her firm, murmuring, "You've always hated discomfort. Isn't this better than leaning against the window?"

Cicely stopped struggling.

They rode in silence until the antiseptic scent of a hospital hit Cicely's senses, and she opened her eyes to find Seth carrying her inside.

"Don't move, you're running a fever," Seth said, his voice cold.

Cicely struggled to sit up, "Isaac, I want to go home."

Isaac looked troubled. "Miss, you're ill."

"What, must I beg you now?"

Isaac's expression changed, he pursed his lips, took a few quick steps, and stood in front of Seth. "Mr. Diaz, hand her over to me."

Seth held his ground, meeting her gaze, "Are you sure you want to pick a fight with me now?"

Cicely lifted her gaze and finally looked at him for a moment.

"What's the right occasion for a quarrel, Seth? Is it because you've been neglecting me, claiming you're too busy, yet somehow had the time to personally escort Danielle away from the Ellis family? Or because you insisted on her taking the passenger seat in your car? Or perhaps because tonight, you escorted her to the party, even choosing a dress for her as a gift?

"When's the right time for this discussion, Seth? Today? Tomorrow? Next month, or next year? Or should I schedule an appointment to argue with you at a more convenient time?"

Seth's lips were a thin line, his gaze fixed on her. Her tone was even, her face impassive, but her eyes sparkled with mockery.

Isaac stood by, understanding that Seth was only concerned for her well-being, but after the events of the last few days, it was only natural for her to be upset.

"Silent? Then, when you decide on a good day for me to be upset, let me know. Even if you think today's suitable, I'm too exhausted to care. I hate hospitals. I want to go home."

After saying this and seeing Seth not making a move, she directly released her grip around his neck, attempting to flip herself out of his arms.

With an unsteady balance, she hung in mid-air, and Seth's expression changed slightly. However, Isaac quickly caught her. Cicely reached out and circled Isaac's neck, calmly saying, "Let's go home."

Issac glanced at Seth, then carried Cicely past him.

Seth stood there for a moment before turning to watch Isaac take Cicely through the hospital doors.

After lifting Cicely into the car, Isaac glanced at the tall figure standing at the hospital entrance watching them. He said calmly, "Aren't you really worried that doing this will push him away or give him a chance to break free from you?"

Cicely's eyelashes fluttered, and she lifted her gaze, "Break free from me?"

A bitter smile crossed her lips. "It seems everyone knows I've been the one clinging to him."

Realizing his mistake, Isaac said softly, "I apologize."

"It’s okay," Cicely replied, hugging the pillow Isaac had handed her, "It's the truth, and I'm not ashamed. If he wants to leave, let him go. If he truly wanted to leave, not even begging would make him stay. And I would never beg."

Isaac nodded, "As long as you understand that."

Before driving off, Isaac called a doctor to meet them at the house. Cicely always disliked hospitals and doctors, and now back at home, she was likely in for another ordeal. Considering the night's events, it seemed no one was going to have an easy time.

The car hadn't been on the road long before Isaac noticed a taxi that had been tailing them. It followed them all the way to the quiet residential area and didn't stop even as they pulled into the driveway of the secluded villa. The car came to a stop outside the grand Ellis estate, and it was Seth, emerging from a taxi behind them, who scooped Cicely up in his arms.

Her eyes narrowed as she recognized the familiar scent wafting around her, and when her gaze fell upon that familiar face, she closed her eyes once more.

"I admit I've been clinging to you, but have I ever stopped you from taking a shower?"

"You can't shower now."

She looked at him, then down at her dirty, disheveled dress. "Can't shower?" She looked back up at him, her eyes filled with sarcasm, "Are you trying to make sure I remember the scent of another man on me?"

His grip on her hand faltered, his voice low and dark, "He didn't touch you."

"I think you know his characters almost as well as I do. Do you think he would be able to control himself? He touched me."

Seth's grip on her arm tightened, his eyes piercing into her, "He didn't. Shut up..."

Cicely felt as if today was her day of suffering, every pain converging on this moment. Her head ached, her arm ached, her foot ached, and her heart ached.

"I was alone with him in a room, do I know what happened, or do you? Seth, he did touch me. He pinned me to the bed, held my shoulders down, and started ripping at my clothes..."

Recalling the event made her voice tremble, "He tried to kiss me..."

The tension in the air snapped like a taut wire suddenly cut. Cicely felt her arm might break under his grasp. The helplessness and fear from before flooded her mind, making the physical pain she felt now seem trivial.

"Do you know how disgusting he was, or are all you men the same, getting aroused by any woman..."

"Shut up!" Seth's voice was a sudden explosion, laden with pain and anger.

Cicely was stunned for a moment, then felt a severe pain in her arm as she was almost dragged into the en-suite bathroom. She had barely steadied herself when the showerhead above suddenly drenched her, her breath catching, unprepared for the sudden deluge and the sound of tearing fabric. Seth had violently torn her dress in two, peeling it from her body.

"Seth, what the hell are you doing?!" She screamed, covering herself in horror.

Seth stood there, soaked to the bone, his hair plastered to his forehead, his face a canvas of dark madness and violence. His eyes were sharp as knives, looking as if they could slice someone to pieces.

Cicely felt a chill, remembering how he had kicked in the bathroom door earlier that night. And now, he stood before her with a restrained ferocity, calmly discarding his suit jacket before tossing it aside and fixing his deep gaze on her.

She retreated in shock, but he suddenly pressed her shoulders, unsympathetically pinning her against the wall behind her.

The aura emanating from him was terrifying, even more so at such close range.

"Where did he kiss you, huh?"

Seth closed in, his black eyes threaded with visible red veins. His voice, laden with extreme danger, seemed ready to tear her apart.

Cicely shook her head, scared, "He didn't..."

Her body was suddenly pressed harder against his, almost crushing her into the wall.